Pétanque fundraising tournament scheduled for Veterans Park
With the long weekend coming up Richard Pilon, owner of Star Café, and Tom Mcgovern, councillor of TBL, know that it is not fair to families and businesses to hold an event on the two main days of the weekend. They don’t want to interfere with everyone’s plans. But they would like people to take part in what they have in store. That’s why they have organized a fundraising event on-site, at the Veterans Park in Knowlton for Monday, between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. Their mission is to make some simple modifications to the park that would avail longer playing time on the Pétanque “terrain,” which is the playing area of this form of “boules.”
Very popular in Quebec, Pétanque is a type of “boules” game where two teams play against each other. It involves rolling or throwing hollow steel balls toward a small wooden ball called a “cochonnet” on a hard dirt or gravel surface. Boules games have been played as early as the sixth century by the early Greeks and has since caught on to other countries that have developed different versions, such as lawn bowling in England.
Mcgovern claims that the plan to spruce up the Pétanque terrain (as the game court is referred to) is the brainchild of Richard Pilon. Already plans to move the benches from the gazebo to the playing area so that people sit comfortably by the game area have been made. Thanks to the Wellness organization, a slider bench has been purchased and will be installed to replace those that are headed toward the Pétanque terrain. They want to hook up a drinking fountain for those who are thirsty, including all the cyclists going by on Knowlton Road. As Pilon aptly pointed out, the park is a great stopping place for those cyclists passing by. There are lots of picnic tables and a shaded area with the gazebo.
Most important is the idea to install two lights from one pole that will be located between the two terrains. Having the playing area lit up will allow more access time for those wanting to play into the evening hours. As well, Mcgovern and Pilon hope to erect a small storage cabin for the necessary equipment.
Mcgovern is hoping that by supporting those playing at the Veterans Park it will generate interest for other teams such as the Bondville Group de Bonne Humeur to have tournaments.
Zachary Pilon is co-owner of Zap Pizza Mobile with his father. He has played the game most of his life thanks to his grandmother. According to Richard Pilon, whose family lives nearby, whenever Zachary hears the clanking of metal balls, he is out the door to watch or even join in the game. He is happy to be playing with his many senior friends. Though his own peers don’t play, he is hoping that having the “terrain” open after dark might make it more available and interesting to them.
Already Quilliams Electric Inc. has stepped in to volunteer any necessary electrical work needed to be undertaken. Virgin Hill wants to participate, along with Star Café’s Zap Pizza Mobile.
The May 22 event offers the opportunity for the community come together in a relaxed atmosphere at the end of what is typically busy to have wagon rides behind the famous Lavigne Clydesdales, enjoy the music by Mannix while feasting on home-made pizza by Pilon and Pilon’s Zap Pizza Mobile. The event is strongly supported by Star Café, Virgin Hill, Les Quaies de l’estrie, Promenades à cheval Jeff Lavigne, and Quilliams Electric Inc.
Pilon and Mcgovern are adamant that this project will come to reality entirely by community rather than relying on the municipality. The event is open for everyone to enjoy. There is no entry fee but whatever donations can be made will be greatly accepted.